Trips for Kids National Appoints New National Support and Sponsorship Manager

San Rafael, Calif.- February 14, 2017 – Trips for Kids has appointed Andy Phelps as full-time National Support and Sponsorship Manager for the new national umbrella organization that launched in August 2017. Phelps is a lifelong cycling enthusiast with over 27 years of outdoor recreation and bicycle industry experience. As National Support and Sponsorship Manager, Phelps’ focus will be on supporting the rapidly growing network of 75 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada, in addition to cultivating and growing Trips for Kids’ bicycle and outdoor recreation industry relationships with the goal of generating cash and in-kind product donations. Phelps will assist the new Trips for Kids national team in supporting existing chapters, building new chapters, improving program quality and achieving its goal of reaching 500,000 youngpeople, especially those most in need, by 2027.

Formerly the Program Manager and Sponsorship Coordinator for the flagship Trips for Kids-Marin (San Rafael, California) chapter for the past 7 years, Phelps transformed their Re-Cyclery Community Bike Shop from a quaint, two-person enterprise into a thriving local retail operation that now provides 60% of the chapter’s annual revenue and refurbishes and recycles thousands of donated bicycles back into the community.

Says Phelps: “This is an amazing opportunity for me! Although Trips for Kids has been around for thirty years, we just launched Trips for Kids national at Interbike last year and it feels very much like a startup. I’m very excited to be part of this new team and I look forward to supporting our chapters with the products they need to get more kids on bikes!”

Robert Alan Ping, Trips for Kids Executive Director said: “Andy will be a critical addition to the tiny but powerful national team, bringing a wealth of industry connections and a naturalgift for nurturing relationships.”

ABOUT TRIPS FOR KIDSFounded in 1988 in Marin County, California, Trips for Kids provides transformative cycling experiences that promote healthy active lifestyles, environmental awareness, and personal empowerment for kids of all communities. With more than 75 independent chapters operating in the United States, Canada, so far 200,000 young people have had the chance to explore the natural world on two wheels through Trips for Kids programs. To learn more, visit www.tripsforkids.org.